Marginal reenforcement for pockets of rubber balls



O. ct. 27, I931. w. J. v o|T 1,329,380

MARGINAL REENFORCEMENT FOR POCKETS OF RUBBER BALLS Filed July 24. 1928 Patented Get. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica J. VOIT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA i INAL REINFORCEMENT FOB. POCKETS OF nunnm BALLQ Application filed July 24, 1928. Serial No. 294,970.

-My invention relates to inflatable objects, such as rubber balls, air cushions, air mattresses, andthe like; and my invention relates particularly to an object of this character having means for protecting that part of the shell or wall of the object near the inflattion-tube thereof.

One'type of object to which my invention may be applied with special advantage has a 1 shell which is pliable and which is preferably elastic. An opening is formed in one part of the shell, and secured to the inside of the shell around the opening is a member which forms a pocket in the shell, with which pocket the opening is connected. Joined to the member, so as to communicate with the interior of the shell, is an inflation-tube. The inflation-tube is extended through the opening during the inflation of the object and at other times it is folded in the pocket so that no air can escape from the object. When the object is inflated a tension is placed on the shell. If a tension is placed on that area of the shell immediately surrounding the opening through which the inflation-tube may be extended the opening is dilated and the shell is easily torn at the opening. 4

It is an object of my invention to provide an object in which the area surrounding) the opening through which the inflation-tn e is extended is restrained from being subjected to the same tension as the other part of the shell, so that the. area will not be liable to tear.

lt accomplish my invention by providing a marginal protecting-means which extends around the area to be protected. The marginal reenforcing-means is preferably inside the shell so that the smooth exterior surface of the shell will not be disturbed; but, if desired, the protecting-means may be secured to v the outside of the shell.

Another object of my invention is to protect the area around the inflation-tube in such a way that it will not make it diflicult to remove the inflation-tube from, or' insert the inflation-tube into, the pocket through the opening.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident from the following description.

Referrin to the drawings, in which I illustrate a pre erred form of my invention,

. Fig. 1 is a view showing an inflatable ball embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1, showing the invention in detail.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, this View being taken as indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the marginal reenforcing-means per se.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the ball 11 has a shell'12. The shell 12 in this instance is made from an elastic material such as rubber. The shell 12 may, however, be made .from a pliable material which is non-elastic. The shell 12 is imperforate, with the exception of an opening 18 to which slits 14 are connected. Secured to the inner surface of the shell 12 is a pocket-member 16,- which forms a pocket 17 directly inside the opening 13 and slits 14. The opening 13 and the slits 14 are in communication with the pocket 17. The pocket-member 16 is preferabl secured to the inner surface of the shell 12 y vulcanizing or by a cementing process, as indicated at the seam 20. It will be noted that the seam 20 is circular.

Joined to the pocket-member 16 at 21 is an inflation-tube 22, the opening of which is in communication with the interior of the shell 12. When the ball is to be inflated, the inflation-tube 22 is extended through the opening 13, as indicated by dotted lines 23, and after inflation of the ball. the inflationtube 22 is folded as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, this preventin the-air from escaping through the inflation-tube.

As pointed out in the first part of the specification, when the shell 12 is inflated, a tension is placed on it and if this tension exists in the area immediately surrounding the opening 13 and also the slits 14, the stretching of the shell makes easy the tearin% of the shell at the opening.

0 overcome this disadvantage, my invention provides a protecting-means which pocket-member are secured to is preferably'in the form of a marginal protecting-means 26. The protecting-means 26, as shown best in Fig. 4 is preferably made from an inelastic cord 2% which may be rub- 5 berized, if desired, and which is wound in helical form so as to form'an annular band. The protecting-means is preferably arranged in the seam between the shell 12 and the pocket-member 16. If the shell 12 and the ther b a vulcanizing process, the rubberized cor 27 practically becomes an integral part of the structure. I

I prefer to use the non-elastic rubberized 15 cord 27 wound in helical form for the reason that. the separate strands permit the rubber of the shell and the pocket to enter between these strands and as a result of this,-

a more integral and stronger structure is obtained which gives more rotection to the surrounded area. If desire ,the protecting-means 26 maybe formed from a woven fabric and if desired, the protecting-means 26 may be placed inside the pocket-member -16 or outside the shell 12. The preferable way, however, is as shown in the drawings. The effect of the protecting-means is to prevent the shell occupying the area inside of it from being placed under a tension when the ball is inflated. The area of the shell inside the protecting-means 26 will, of course, be placed under a slight tension, but this tension is not nearly so great as the tension placed on the remainder of the shell 12, nor is it suflicient to dilate the opening 13 and'the slits14 to the extent that the shell there- 'around will be tom. 1

From the foregoing description it will be seen that not only does my invention protect the area of the shell which surrounds the opening 13, butit accomplishes this result in such a manner that the removing of the inflation-tube from the pocket 17 through the opening 13 "and the inserting of the inflation-tube into'the pocket 17 is no more difficult than if the protecting means were not there. This is a very important part "of my invention.

I. claim as my invention:

combination of: a shell having an opening; a pocket-member having itsperiphery joined with said shell in air-tight relationship so as V to form a pocket inside said shell, with which l5 pocket said opening is connected; an inflastion-tube joined to said pocket-member, by means of which inflation-tube "said shell is inflated; and a reenforcing means consisting of a band defining an area including said opening and being of sufiiciently larger size than said opening to permit flexibility of the I j portions of said shell adjacent to said openr 2. In an' object of the class described the combinationof: a shell having an opening; a

said pocket-member where said ber is secured to said shell.

character descri t dm 1. In an ob ect of the class described the on g ,a seam de pocket-member secured in air-tight relation to said shell around said opening for forming a pocket inside 'saidlshell, with which pocket said opening-is connected; an inflation-tube joined to said pocket-member, by means of which inflation-tube said shell-is inflated; and marginal protecting-means extending around that area of said shell surrounding said opening for preventing that area of said shell surrounding said opening from being placed under a tension suflicient to dilate said opening, said marginal protecting means being secured to saidshell and pocket-mem- 3. In an object of the class described the combination of: a shell having an opening; a pocket-membersecured to said shell around said opening for forming a pocket inside said shell, with which pocket said opening is connected; an inflation-tube joined to said pocket-member,'by means of which inflationtube said shell is inflated; and marginal protecting-means extending around that area of said shell surrounding said opening for reventing that area of said shell surroun 'ng said opening from being placed under a tension sufiicient to dilate said opening, said marginalprotecting-means consisting of an inelastic cord in helical form and being secured to said shell and said pocket-member where said pocket-member is secured to said shell.

4. Aninflating device for an article of the character described, including: an outer wall having an opening; an inner wall extending across said opening, said walls being secured together in air-tight relationship on the periphery ofan areaincludin said 0 ening; an'inflation tube extendin irom sald inner wall in position projectaile through said opening; and a continuous reenforcing member-following said eriphery of said area for relieving tension om the portion of saidouter wall 1 g within said area. no

5. AM atingedevice for an article of the (1, including: an outer wall having an'opening therein "an inner wall ex across said opening, said walls being to other in air-ti t relationship by ing the perip cry of an area including said opening; an inflation tube extending from said inner wall in position projectable through said opening; and a pe-- secure 'ripheral reenforcing 'member in said seain' 1241 for relieving tension from said walls within saidarea.

6. An inflating-device for an article of the character described, including: an outer wall 1 having an opening therein; an inner wall extendirzg across said opening, said walls being secu togetherin air-ti ht relationship by a seam definingth'e -perip eryof an area ineluding said opening; an.-,inflation tube extending f rom'a'aid inner wall in pbflition pm rszgsso jectable through said opening; and a reen forcing band surrounding sa1d opening for reenforcing an area of said outer wall larger than and including said opening, there being 5 a sufiicient area of said outer wall between said band and said opening for permitting manipulation consequent to the operation of inflating said article.

7. An inflating device for an article of the character described, including: an outer wall member having an opening therein; an inner wall extending across said opening; inflating means held by said inner wall in position cooperating with said opening; and a reenforoing band consisting of a cord loop secured to said outer wall around said opening and being spaced away from an edge of said opening to permit expansion of a portion of said outer wall adjacent to said (pening during operation contributory to in ating said article.

8. An inflating device for an article of the character described, including: an outer wall memberhaving an elongated opening defined by the flexible portions of said outer wall; an

2 inner wall extending across said opening; inflating means held by said inner wall in position cooperating with said opening; and a reenforcing band secured to said outer wall 7 around said opening and being spaced away 80 from an edge of sad opening to permit expansion of a portion of said outer wall adjacent to said opening during operation contributory to inflating said article.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 18th day of July, 1928.

WILLIAM J VOIT. 

